Budget A Bait-and-Switch

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's proposal to close the budget deficit is nothing more than a bait-and-switch gambit to protect his political party from retribution at the polls in November.

Under the plan, the vast majority of towns would be faced with the dilemma of either decimating their public education systems or increasing their property taxes by 10 to 20 percent. In short, the governor's plan is dead on arrival.

The only way to close the deficit is a combination of income tax increases, highway tolls and budget cuts. To shield members of his own party from retribution in November, he presented a plan so draconian in nature that any tax increases will seem mild in comparison. Democrats in the House will attempt to claim a moral victory to save their seats.

Unfortunately, the Republicans are no better. They spin a narrative under which funding is being denied to the fiscally conservative towns and wasted on the corrupt cities. It is a narrative that is destructively divisive. Rather than working together to develop the economic development and urban revitalization plan that is so desperately needed, the Governor and Republicans chose political positioning instead.

I urge all Connecticut residents to hold the politicians accountable and demand unity.